Known for being the home of South African hero Nelson Mandela, the township of Soweto was, in years past, known as a rough outskirt of Johannesburg. Through the locals and their delicious home-cooked BBQ, David discovers that there’s more to Soweto than meets the eye. With a powerful art and dance culture that’s full of passion and energy, this tight-knit community is growing into a formidable city of its own.
With only twelve hours’ notice to attend a wedding in Tanzania’s capital city, it’s a good thing David is in Dar es Salaam, a major hub of fashion, textiles and trade on Africa’s east coast. Though he doesn’t manage to blend in with the locals at the wedding, he does get to sample the local food available at the Coco Beach market, and to take a trip out to an easy-going fishing village to soak up its fresh seafood market.
David speaks with several Ethiopian-born people who have spent the majority of their lives abroad and have recently moved back to the capital city, Addis Ababa. He realises that the true spirit of the country, with its reputation for poverty and famine, lies in the younger generations whose entrepreneurial drive and appreciation for preserving their unique culture are paving a new future for a modern Ethiopia.
In the wake of a seven-year Italian occupation of Addis Ababa, a charming amount of Italian culture intertwines with the modern Ethiopia that the city now represents. David meets up with his friend Fabricio, a proud Italian who spent his childhood in Addis Ababa, and together they explore some of the city’s espresso cafés and fine Italian eateries.
Upon arriving in Zanzibar, a picturesque island known for its vast white sand beaches and its cultural melting-pot of African and Arabic culture, David is enchanted by the local people and their laid-back way of life. He meets a young business owner who builds houseboats and is gaining success in the tourism industry. Together they have fun cooking fresh local seafood for friends right on the boat.
David journeys off the beaten path in Zanzibar to the small fishing village of Jambiani, where the motto is 'pole-pole' or 'slowly-slowly,' and the people are warm and inviting. He spends the day with an Italian hotel owner who loved the island so much she made it her home 8 years ago. During his stay on the island, he witnesses the daily life of the locals, from seaweed harvesting in the vast shallow waters at low-tide, to spear fishing for fresh octopus, to grilling fresh seafood right on the beach.
